Monday, December 5, 2011

Today's Travel News

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE. You get on a plane feeling just fine, looking forward to a trip home for the holidays or a quick business trip. Then your sniffling, coughing seatmate boards the plane and suddenly, you're resigned to a week of feeling under the weather. CNN has compiled some good tips to stay healthy as chilly weather and peak travel dates loom. Keep a good distance between you and someone you know to be sick (as much as possible), allot some space in your carry on to hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes, and wash your hands whenever the opportunity arises.

YOU JUMP, I JUMP. If you're a non-claustrophobic history buff with a $60,000+ travel budget, you’ll like this one. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage, Deep Ocean Expeditions is offering the opportunity to dive in a submersible to explore the wreckage on the ocean floor. The New York Times reports that this expedition won’t be around forever, as the company is planning to discontinue the trip. BETTER DEALS & TRAVEL INSIGHTS. Libby Vertz is a journalism student whose blog, The All Aboard Beat, focuses on travel. She’s written an excellent article on the role of travel agencies today: how different types of travelers utilize their services and the challenges of agencies as they try to market themselves to an internet-savvy generation. To us, it boils down to this: “travel agents can find consumers a better deal on their vacation because of their access to vendors and discounted prices offered exclusively through travel agencies.” And this: “Because their business is travel, they can offer insights and advice a consumer might not find on their own.”

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. What are your rights when you fly? From bumping to tarmac delays, USA Today has a rundown on the convoluted rules and regulations that protect you as an air passenger.

ALTERNATIVE LAS VEGAS. Where can you find Sin City’s historical district, espresso martinis, and outdoorsy side? This 3-day itinerary from British Airways’ Highlife blog has an introduction to a version of Vegas you never knew existed.